Primary school students’ subjective well-being and life skills self-efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: Association with time spent on leisure activities, meaning in life and social connectedness

Abstract

The purpose of this research, conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, was to assess primary school students' levels of well-being and life skills self-efficacy across domains of academic, personal, social, and career development. Data collected also allowed for exploration of how well-being and life skills self-efficacy levels are linked to students’ meaning in life, connectedness to parents, school, peers and teachers, and the time they spend on leisure activities. In September 2020, a research team conducted an online questionnaire survey of 1,405 upper primary school students (Grade 3 – Grade 6; boys 704; girls 701) from seven schools in Hong Kong. Findings on students’ subjective well-being indicated that a student’s possession of meaning in life, and connectedness to parents, school and peers are important factors associated with life satisfaction. The relationships of leisure activities to well-being and self-efficacy varied, with some having positive effect and others a negative effect. The time students spent on physical activities, together with the presence and searching for meaning in life, school and teacher connectedness are associated with positive well-being and personal development self-efficacy. The amount of time students spent on reading, the presence of meaning in life, and the connection with parents appeared to be protective factors that prevent negative effects. Social development selfefficacy appeared to be positively associated with time spent on group activities, presence of meaning in life and connectedness to parents, school and peers. Time spent on computer games had a negative effect on academic self-efficacy, while presence and search for a meaning in life, and connectedness to teachers and school are positively related to academic self-efficacy. Challenges and opportunities for supporting primary school students’ well-being during a pandemic are discussed within the East Asian cultural context.